Industrial truck



Jan. 30, 1945. E. J. :JUNI-'IAM INDUSTRIAL TRUCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledSept. 6, 1943V .INVENTOR Jmm l J -fa Jan. 30; 1945. E. J. DUNHAMINDUSTRIAL TRUCK-` Filed Sept. 6, 1943 '5' Sheets-Sheet 5 Suk@ @2,

IN VEN TOR. 7W ZIM/Pm?? BY Filed Sept. 6, 1943 "J gw Jan. 30, 1945 tureshown in Figure 6.

Patented Jan. 30, 1945- UNITED s'rAT-E so PATENT ori-'ICE INDUSTRIAL'moon Elmer J. Dunham, Battle Creek, Mich., assignor to Clark EquipmentCompany, Buchanan, Mich., a corporation of Michigan ApplicationSeptember 6, 1943, Serial No. 501,449

17 Claims.

this carriage being adapted to receive forks or fingers for supportingaload, or a ram or crane mechanism, by which the load may be picked up,elevated and transported Broadly stated, the present invention isconcerned particularly with a novel constructionh of load supportingcarriage so designed as to receive either forks, a ramor a crane, eachof which may be detachably secured to the carriage depending upon thetype of goods andthe yoperations required in the handling of specifictypes of material.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such aconstruction in which an auxiliary rack or frame may be'detachablysecured to the load supporting carriage to increase its vertical extentwhen light bulky packages are handled by the truck.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear morefully from the following mast at the forward end of the truck areindicated generally at and comprise channelshaped members spaced apartand rigidly held in position by means of transverse spacing mem'- bers 8and 1, member B being located at the top of the uprights and 'I beinglocated intermediate the endsl of the uprights.

At the lower end of the uprights there is prol vided a transverse cradlemember 8 rigidly bolty I3 adapted to be acted upon by suitable pressuredetailed description, which taken in conjunction l with the accompanyingdrawings, will disclose to those skilled in the art aparticularconstruction and operation oit a preferred form of the presentinvention.

In the drawings:

' Figures l-A and l-B comprise a side elevational view of a standard ofan industrial truck 'with load supporting -fingers shown mountedthereon.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the load supporting carriage. vI

.Figure 3 is a rear elevational view lift fingers.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a ram structure supported on theload supporting carnage.

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view showing a crane structure mountedon-the load supporting carriage.

Figure '7 is a front elevational view'of the strucof one of the Figure 8is a. side elevational 'vie'w showing a rack mounted o'n the loadsupporting carriage,

and

Figure 9 is a corresponding elevational view of the rack.

Referring now in detail to Figures 1 to 3, inclufor raising and loweringcross -head I4 which carries suitable sprockets over whichv chains y aretrained which are connected to the load supporting carriage indicatedgenerally at I5.

The carriage I5 is provided at its upper end with outwardly directedstub shaft portions Il iournalled in the upper ends of the carriage andcarrying rollers I8 operating within channels of the uprights 5. Similarshafts I9 are provided in the lower end of the carriage and carryingcorresponding rollers 20 also operating in the channels 5 whereby thecarriage is guided for vertical movement within the channels of theuprights. The chains which are 4trained over the sprockets on the crosshead I4 are anchored to the carriage through pins 22 bolted tothecarriage adjacent E its lower end.

' right assembly is journalled on a transverse shaft carried -by thetruck chassis to provide'for rock- .ing movement of the uprights so thatthey may be tiltedforwardly or rearwardly. l'I'his Itilting action isproduced by suitable tilting cylinders having pistons connected to thejournal lportion 28 of suitable brackets 29 bolted to the outer sidesvof the uprights intermediate the cradle member 8 and -the'transversereinforcing bar l.

sive, the uprights which form the standard or- This construction issimilar to that shown and described in my Patent 2,264,512 issuedDecember 2, 1941.

The load supporting carriage i5 projects forwardly of the uprights 5 asshown in Figure l-B and is provided with transverse surfaces spacedapart vertically. 'I'he surfaces 36 are adapted to receive suitable capscrews 32 whereby transverse plate members 33 and 34 are secured to theface of the carriage I5 forwardly of the upright-s. The upright platemember 33 is provided with a depending tongue portion 35 at its lowertransverse edge. The upper surface or edge of the member 33 is providedwith laterally spaced recesses 36 for a purpose to be describedhereinafter.

In Figures l-B and 3 there is disclosed a lift linger or fork comprisingan L-shaped member with a lower horizontally extending portion 31adapted to project forwardly of the uprights 5 and to engage in asuitable pallet or under a skid or tote box. The upwardly extendingportion 3S of the lift fingers has suitably welded to the rear facethereof a bracket member 39 havingV a depending tongue or flange 40adapted to engage over the rear edge of the upper surface of the platemember 33 thereby locking the iingers against forward movement relativeto the plate member. Spaced vertically below the bracket 39, a secondbracket 42 is provided, having an upwardly extending lip or flange 43engaging v behind the flange 35 of the plate member 33 whereby thefingers are deilnltely locked against release relative the plate member33. The ngers 38 are assembled on to the load supporting carriage 5 bybeing moved laterally over the end of the plate 33 and then movedlaterally into position. Preferably two such iingers are provided andare spaced apart laterally on the plate member 33, the lateral spacingbeing adjustable as required by the pallet construction or otherconditions and the fingers then being anchored by plungers 44 havingtheir lower ends' projecting into the recesses 36. The plungers arepreferably spring biased into the recesses 38 to lock vthe fingersagainst lateral movement on the plate member 33. i

The lower portion of the vertical part 38 of the fingers abuts againstthe surface of plate 34 so that the fingers are held in proper positionon the carriage and'cannot be released therefrom without raising theplungers 44 and sliding the fingers laterally off of the plate 33.

It will therefore be apparent that the load supporting carriagebasically consists of the carriage portion l5 provided with suitablerollers guiding it for vertical movement within the channels 5 and isprovided with transverse vertically spaced plates 33 and 34 upon whichthe actual load engaging members are carried, these members beingdetachable depending upon the type of material to be handled.y f

Thus, with the present construction it is apparent that the fingers 38may be readily removed from the carriage and other types of loadhandling members may be attached thereto such as shown in Figures 4 to7.

In Figures 4 and 5 I provide a ram structure consisting of a mountingplate which is preferably a rectangular vertically extending platehavingbrackets 52 welded to the rear face thereof in laterally spacedrelation as shown in Figure 5.

'Ip'hese brackets have depending lip portions 53 engaging over the upperrear edge ofthe plate 33and correspond to the locking brackets 39 on thefingers 3B. The plate 33 is provided at its center with an extending bar54 welded or otherwise secured to the upper edge of the plate 33 andadapted to act as a centering means. The plate 5E is provided with twodepending lugs 55 carried by a cross member 56 welded or otherwisesecured to the rear-face of the plate 58 intermedithe brackets E2.

Below the plate .it the vertical rain support 5t is provided withdetachable brackets bolted as by means of bolts 5S to the rear face ofthe plate 50 and provided with tongue o? lip portions 5S i engagedbehind the depending flange T125 ci the plate member 33.

In assembling the plate on to the carriage, the upper portion of theplate is hooked over the upper edge of the member 33 with the lugs 55disposed on opposite sides of the bar 5i. The plate is then moved intovertical position and the brackets 5l attached, the brackets when placedin position securely locking the plate 50 to the carriage and preventingits removal therefrom.

Projecting forwardly from the plate 5G is the ram member Sil which iswelded or otherwise suitably secured as indicated at B2 in an apertureformed in the plate 5G, a reinforcing web mem- -ber 63 being welded tothe rain GB and the outer surface of the plate 5G for strengthening theram against deflection. The ram itself can be of varying lengthdepending upon the load to be carried, such rams normally being used.for carrying coils of wire, cable or similar material, these coils beingplaced over the ram and thus transported from one location to another.

In-Figures 6 and 'I l have disclosed the mounting of a crane upon theload supporting carriage for such a truck. In this form of the inventionthe crane structure comprises two vertically extending -beam sections 1Uwhich are secured in laterally spaced position to vertically extendingplate members l2. The plate members 'l2 are provided at their upper endswith brackets 13 'having depending lips 14 locking,r over the upperedges of the upper plate 33 of the load supporting carriage.Intermediate the plates l2 there is provided an angle member 151 rigidlysecured tothe plates and carrying lugs 16 for centering the assemblyrelative the centering bar 54 mounted on the plate 33. Similarlydetachable brackets 11 are secured to the plate 12 below the transverseplate 33 and hook over the depending lip 35 to grip the plates 22securely to the plate 33.

The I-beams 10 adjacent the lower ends are spaced apart by channelmember 18 and are so vshaped as to converge above the plate 12, the

converging ends being secured together by a transverse Aplate 80 weldedacross the upper ends of the beams 10.

A pair of channel members 82 are secured at one end over the rtop of theplate 80 and project forwardly in parallel relation, being reinforced bytransverse spacing members 83 intermediate their ends and at theendprovided with an intermediate block 84 adapted to receive the dependingcrane hook 85.

Suitable angle bars 8G provide intermediate bracing between theextending portions of theA channel 82 and the vertically extendingI-beam 10, these angles being welded at opposite ends to these members.

the I-beam l0. This forms a rigid strong crane structure capable ofready mounting or detachment from the load supporting carriage of thetruck.

In Figures 8 and 9 I have disclosed means for extending ,the verticalheight of the load supporting carriage to provide protection whenrelatively light bulky packages are handled by the truck, this extensionbeing provided by a rack member adapted to be secured to the plates 33and 34 of the load supporting carriage.

Y When such a rack is -to be employed vertically extending bars 90 arewelded to'the ends of the plates 33 and 34 and extend verticallythereabove, being connected at their upper ends by the transverse bar92. Each of the bars 90 is provided on its outer' surface with laterallyspaced strips 93 and 94 welded to the surfaces thereof and forming aguide for the depending ends 95 of the rack frame Q6. These dependingends 95 are reduced in width to extend between the giudes 93 and 94whereby the frame is held against tilting movement relative the loadsupporting carriage. Suitable bolts 91 lock these endsv to the sidemembers 90 of the carriage. The frame member 96 ris preferably a AU-shaped form and includes the rack lportion comprising verticallyextending strips Q8 and horizontally extending strips 99- verse' strip92 thereby securely locking-the racky to the load supporting carriagebut providing for ready detachment thereof when desired.

It is therefore believed apparent that I have provided a rnovel type ofload supporting carriage designed as to make it adaptable to receiveeither lift lingers, a ram or crane depending upon the type of materialloads to be handled by the truck and also capable of receiving anextension rack when such rack is desired. This particular constructionis of distinct advantage and allows la. single truck to be used forvarious purposes in a plant where, for economical reasons, it may not bepractical :to purchase three or fourdiilerent types of trucks. Theinterchangeability of the various load' engaging members on the carriageprovides for flexibility in operation of the truck and the particularconstruction facilitates this exibility by providing quick attachmentand detachment of4 the various load handling means from the carriage.

I am aware that variousv changes may be made in centain details of thepresent construction, and

I therefore do not intend to be limited except as defined by ethe scopeand spirit of the appended claims.

" Iclaim:`

1. In an industrial truck having a vertical mast at one lend thereof, aload supporting carriage mounted lfor vertical movement, in said mastand including a pair of vertically spaced laterally extending platessupported forwardly of said mast,

and detachable load-engaging means supported bysaid carriage andincluding means hooking over the upper and lower transverse edges of theupper plate and abutting against the outboard surface of the lowerplate. 2. In an industrial truck having a vertical mast at one endthereof, a carriage mounted for vertica-1 movement in said mast andhaving a, first laterally extending vertical plate member carriedforwardly of said, mast and a' second coplanar plate member disposed inspaced relation therebeneath, load-engaging means adapted to bedetachably secured to said carriage and including i bracket membersengaging over the upper edge of said rst plate member to hold said means5. The combination of claim l wherein said load-engaging means comprisesa pair of L-shaped lift lingers each having the vertical portion hookedto said upper plate and bearing against the outboard surface of thelower plate.

6. In combination, in an industrial truck having a pair of laterallyspaced channel-shaped uprights, a carriage having vertically spacedrollers at opposite sides thereof engaging within the flanges of saiduprights for guiding said carriage for vertical movement, supplementaryvertically spaced rollers on said carriage bearing against the webs ofsaid uprights to prevent lateral binding of said carriage therein, apair of coplanar vertically-spaced laterally-extending plates supportedon said carriage forwardly of saiduprights, and detachable load-engagingmeans mounted on said plates..

, 7. On an industrial truck having a pair oflaterally-spaced'channel-shaped uprights, a load supporting carriagearranged for ,vertical movement in said uprights and comprising a bodymember having a pair of vertically spaced rollers on each side thereofengageable within the flanges of said uprights to guide said carriagefor vertical movement therein, a second pair of vertically spacedrollers at eachside of said body member arranged to bear against thewebs of said uprights to prevent lateral binding of said member in saiduprights, and plate means secured to said body member forwardly of saiduprights for receiving detachable load-engaging means.`r

8. The combination, with a vertical mast atl the inner surfaces of boththe flanges and webs of said uprights guiding said carriage forvertical' movement and preventing binding action in said uprights,Y andload engaging meansv detachably secured to said body member'forwardly ofsaid uprights.

v9. Load-engaging means for an industrial'lift truck having a verticallymovable carriage pro-v -l vided with coplanar vertically-spacedlaterallyextending plates, comprising a. planar base member havingbrackets adjacent .the upper edge` thereof hooking over the upper edgeof the upper plate, detachable brackets on said base member hookingunder the lower edge of said upper plate, whereby said base member isdetachably clamped to said upper plate, the lower portion of said basemember abutting the outer surface of the lower plate, and a forwardlyprojecting ram anchored tosaid base member.

10. Load-engaging means for an industrial lift truck having a verticallymovable carriage provided with coplanar vertically-spacedlaterally-extending plates, comprising planar base means having bracketshooking over the upper edge of said upper plate, detachable clampshooking under the lower edge of said upper plate whereby said means isdetachably clamped to said upper plate, vthe lower portion of said basemeans abutting against the outer surface of said lower plate, andupwardly and forwardly extending means secured to said base means andformy ing a forwardly projecting crane arm.

ly-extending plates, comprising a pair of L-k shaped lift fingers havingmeans engaging over the upper and lower edges of said upper plate fordetachably securing said fingers thereto, said fingers being laterallyslidable into position on said upper plate, and having their lowervertical portions abutting the outer surface of said lower plate. Y

12. The combination o claim 9 further characterized by the provision ofinterengaging means on the upper edge ofsaid upper plate and on saidbase member centering said base member on said plate and preventinglateral shifting thereof.

13. The combination of claiml() further characterized by the provisionof interengaging means on the upper edge of said plate and on said basemeans centering said crane arm relative to said carriage and preventinglateral shifting thereof.

14. The combination of claim 11 further characterized by the provisionof laterally spaced vertical recesses in the upper edge` of said upperplate, and plungers in said fingers engageable in said' recesses forpositioning saidflngers in selected positions laterally on said plate.

15. In an industrial truck having a vertical mast at one end thereof, acarriage vertically movable in said mast and having a pair of coplanarvertically-spaced laterally extending plates disposed forwardly of saidmast, vertically projecting and plates secured to the ends of saidlaterally extending plates, a transverse bar secured across the top ofsaid end plates abovel the upper edge of said upper plate, a rackadapted to be detachably secured to said carriage having downwardlyextending arms engaging the outer surfaces of said end plates andsecured thereto, pin means on said rack interlocking in said transversebar, and bolt means clamping said rack to said bar intermediate said pinmeans.

16. 1n the truck of claim 15, the provision of channel-forming means insaid end plates receiving the lower ends of said arms and maintainingthem against tilting.

